Well elevator



June 17 1924. 1,498,141

E. C. WILSON WELL ELEVATOR Original Filed Dec. 26, 1914 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 17, 1924. 1,498,141

E. C SON PATENT orncs.

ELIEU 0. WILSON, 0! LOS ANGELES,

WELL ELEVATOR.

continuation of application Serial No. 879,130, filed December 26, 1914. This application fled April 80, Y

' 1920.' Serial No. 875,832.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELI'HU C. WILsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los An eles, in the county ofLos Angeles, State of alifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Well Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to well elevators, commonly known as casing or pipe elevators. It is the general object of this invention to provide an improved and more effective latching means for the ,relatively movable clamping parts of casing or pipe elevators. The latching mechanism which I herein show, describe and claim is generally applicable to any of the usual types of casing or pipe elevators, but I show it in connection with that general type of elevator which has been patented to me on September 2, 1919, No. 1,314,996, 'and I show it in detail as adapted to that type of elevator; although it will be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such detail.

This application is a continuation of my application for well elevators filed December 26, 1914, Serial No. 879,130.

It is unnecessary here to state all of the objects, and corresponding features and ac complishments, of the invention in eneral, because those will become more rea y apparent from the following detailed description; but I may preliminarily mention that. one of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a locking mechanism which is easily and quickly operated, and also to provide a mechanism which cannot, by any ordinary operation of the elevator, or by any strain to which the elevator may ordinarily be subjected, become jammed, mutilated or deformed, or in any manner b ecome inoperative; and to provide such a locking mechanism that cannot, under any operativecondition, be accidentally opened, or be forced open by any strains that are at any time imposed on the elevator. These and other objects, and their corresponding features and accomplishments as embodied in the invention, will be'most readily apparent from the following detailed description wherein I describe a preferred specific form of mylatch .mechanism as applied to that particular type of elevator hereinbefore mentioned. I

In said. drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective showing the application of my latch mecha-i nism to such typeof elevator; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the elevator applied to the pipe; Fig. 3 is a plan of the e evator with the suspension links removed, and showing the pipe in place in the elevator; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section taken as indicated by line 44 on Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail, showing in upper plan the latch alone; Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section, showing the operative parts of the elevator in closed position, said section being taken just above the latch; Fig. 7 is a similar section showing the elevator in the-act of being closed. 0

In the drawings I illustrate'an elevator whose pipe embracing structure is made up of a body A and a gate B, the two parts together forming the clam which encircles, or substantially encircles t e pipe. Gate B is hinged to body A on a vertical hin e pin 10; the other end of the gate being cc to swing'to open and close the elevator. At the lower portion of its swingin end, the gate B is provided with a shoul er lug 12 adapted to ride over and rest upon a projectmg lug 13 on body A; the lug 12 being adapted to swing into the recess 14 above lug 13. The swin end of the gate is thus ositively supported vertically upon the ody A at both ends against strams' the hinged end bein vertically supported between hinge knuc cs 15, as lllustrated. The body is grooved or chamfered at 16 to receive the nose 17 of the free swinging end of gate B. All of this construction, is substantially, in structure and operation, like that set forth in my issued patent.

The whole elevator is suspended by the links 20Iwhich connect with body A by assing between bifurcated extensions 21 an being held in place by block 22. This type of suspension is set out and claimed in my ap- I lication onhoists, Serial No. 835,924, filed lhay 2, 1914 patented June 1st, 1920, No. 1,31,967.

The latch member proper comprises a shank 25 and a transversely extending head i rounding coiled spring 30, one end of which is connected at 31 to the body A and the other end at 32 to the shaft27. This spring tends at all times to rotate the shaft 27 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 6 and 7. There is a stop lug 33 on the latch member, adapted to engage body A to limit rotation of the latch member in the direction indicated, making the limiting position of the latch member such as is shown in Fig. 7. There may also be another stop lug 34 on the opposite side of the latch member to engage the body A and to limit rotation in the opposite direction. Either this or an equivalent stop, or the resistance of spring to movement of the latch toward the left in Figs. 6 and 7, or both, enable the action, hereinafter described, of opening the elevator and its removal from the pipe with a single movement of the latch.

It is to' be noted that the latch head and shank are symmetrical with relation to a central radial line through them; and thatthe pivotal bearing surfaces at pin 27, the

' mounting of the shank on the pin, and the support of the pin, are all symmetrical with relation to that same radial line; so that a stress exerted on the head is transmitted in line through the shank and symmetrically through the bearings to the body A. The

latch is thus balanced as regards stresses on it; and it is impossible to cause it to bind and be hard to move. The .arcuate concentric engaging surfaces of the latch, (hereinafter described) not only make for good easily moving bearing surfaces free from excessive wear, but also aid in insuring the transfer of stress from the gate to the latch in aradial direction.

On the free swinging end of gate B there are two vertically spaced latch lugs 40, the upper one being preferably flush with the upper surface of gate B. The upper bearing lug 29 is also preferably flush with the up per surface of body A. When the elevator is closed shank of the latch member is adapted to pass between the two latch lugs 40; and the head 26 lies behind, or outside of. the two lugs 40. Tu this position the head 26 lies against two shoulder surfaces 41, which stand inward of the lugs, in such a position that the latch head, when it has swung inwardly over the outer surfaces 40 of the lugs, strikes these shoulder surfaces 41.

The outer surfaces 40 of lugs 40 are formed so as to be concentric with the center of shaft 27. when the gate B is in closed position; and the inner surfaces of the head 26 of the latch member are also similarly concentrically formed, as shown at 26. When the gate is closed upon a casing or pipe, as it is swung inwardly, the curved lateral face 26 of the latch head first engages either the nose 17 of gate member B or the forward curved surfaces 40 of the lugs 40 (depending upon the exact arrangement and conformation of the arts) and then rides over the forward sur aces 40 of lugs 40 and is pushed out towards the left in Figs. 6 and 7 until the lugs 40 have passed the head. Then, just when the gate B reaches its final closed position, the head 26 swings in over the concentric outer lug surfaces -10, and brings up against the stop surfaces 41. Just enough clearance is provided to allow the latch head to swing over the lugs when the gate is in final closed position; but not enough clearance to make the gate appreciably loose relative to the body A.

When the latch is in the position shown in Fig. 6 it will be seen that no strain, however great it maybe, which tends to force the gate B outwardly, in the direction indicated by the arrow in that figure, can have any tendency whatever toforce the latch in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow on the latch in Figs. 6 and 7, and thus cannot, under any circumstances, have any tendency whatever to move the latch so as to loosen the gate or allow it to open. Furthermore, any incipient outward movement of the gate will, if anything, tend to throw surfaces 40* out of concentricity in such a manner as to cause the latch head to be forced more solidly home against shoulders 41. Furthermore, if an excessively great strain is put upon the gate, tending to open it, such strain being large enough to deform the latch, it will be seen that such deformation will take place by bending the "upper and lower ends of the latch head out toward the right in Fig. 4:; and such bending will hot at all render the device inoperative, because the latch head extends from the shank at right angle to the plane of movement of the shank rather than parallel to that movement. It will of course make the parts fit a little loosely, but it will not under any circumstances render them inoperative, or bend the parts to such a position as to change the operation as explained above.

In placing the elevator upon a piece of pipe, it is only necessary to place the body A around the pipe and then slam the gate shut, the latch acting entirely automatically. In removing the elevator from a pipe my latch is exceptionally handy. Of course the latch may be opened with one hand and the gate handle used to open the gate with the othor hand. But a very simple manner of removing the elevator from a piece of pipe. and the manner which is very much used by the man who is located on the platform in the upper part of a derrick, is merely to push against the latch head with the hand or with the foot, or with a stick of Wood or an other implement, push' enerall towaz'd the left in Fig. 6. T l ie? h rst eife t of this operation is to swing the latch around toward the left in Fig. 6. As soonas the latch has swung to the point where it/releases the gate, further pushing upon the latch around to the left willthen push the body A ofl' the casin swinging. the body A on hinge pin 10 and us 0 suing the ate B. The e evator may th be opene and pushed ofi the casing by a-s'ingle simple eration. This operation, as will be rea y recognized, depends upon the fact that the latch in its 0 ening movement, moves, or swings aroun in the same general (11 rection of movement or of rotation with relation to body A that the body A moves, or swings around with relation to the gate B to open the elevator; and upon the fact that some resistance is opposed (the stop or the spring) to such movement of the latch relatively to the body A. It will be observed that-the end of the latch 26 has a clear projection beyond the periphery of the support so that, notwithstanding the fact that, as hereinbefore described, the latch will very positively lock the parts together, this projecting toe of the latch 26ma be readily engaged and thrown out of its ocking positioili without the use of any special releasing too It is to be noted that the secure locking .of the gate does not depend at all upon the position of the elevator upon the pipe, or ,de-

pend at allupon the elevator maintaining its position under the collar C of the pipe P. The elevator may slide u and down the pipe without afiecting'the atch at all; and vertical vibrations of the elevator and ipe which occur very frequentl in pipe nling practice) cannot at all affect the security of the gate; due to the'fact that the latch swings around horizontally and therefore cannot be afiected'by any vertical vibration. And, furthermore, accidental contact of the elevator while running vertically, withan external object, is much less apt to' olilen the horizontally moving latchthan one w ich moves in any other irection.

It is to be noted that the latch is located,

- andconnects to the body and gate, at points v gate is therefore held very e substantially below their upper ed es. The I ective y against any twisting or binding action that might otherwise occur; for instance, if: the gate were latched at its upper ed a and lateral opening pressure were exerte on it at, its middleor lower portions.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the-exact details of thearticular embodiment thereof which are ivlustrated in the accompanying drawings and describedin the foregoing specification, ex -cept as such details are specifically recited in. the follpwing claims. There can, of

course, be considerable variation in many of the details illustrated-and described withembrace'between them a pipe or casing, and

an oscillatory latch device pivotally connected with one of said members and ada ted to cooperate with the other of said mem ers to hold said members in locked condition; said latch device comprising. a shank provided with a head portion, the member with which said latch device is engaged being rovided with spaced heads with which said atch device head is engaged and between which the shank thereof is received; said spaced heads being rovided with seats to receive said latch evice'head to hold the member in locked condition.

- 2. In. casing handlin tools, the combination' of a lurality of c amping and holding members in ged 1 together and adapted to embrace between them a pipe or casing, susension means secured to one of saidmemare, an oscillatory latch device pivotally connected with said member having a head adapted to be moved in an arcuate path to coo erate with the other of said members to hol said members in locked condition, sprin means urging said latch "device in one direction, spaced lugs being provided on said last named member for cooperation with said latch device head; said spaced'lugs havin arcuate portions over which the latch ead may ride under the influence of said ipring means.

3. n casing handling tools, the combination of complemental c amping and holding members hingedto ether and constructed to define a bore for t e reception of a casing, a spring urged oscillatory latch pivotally connected to oneof the members an mounted to swing in a plane at right angles to the axis of the bore, and a head on the other 'member' provided with a seat for engagement wi the swinging end of the latch to hold the two members together, the nose-of the latch heing. beveled, so that it will auto matically be swung'outwardly by engage-- ment with the other member and then ermitted. to return to working position w an holding the beveled nose thereof in position for engagement with the other member to swing the latch outwardly as the two members of the elevator are closed, and a head upon the other member provided with a seat adapted to interlock with the latch to lock the elevator in a closdd condition.

5. In casing handling tools, the combination of a plurality of casing encircling members pivoted together near one end on a vertical pivot to swing relatively horizontally; and a latchin device to hold the swinging ends of said members together, embodying a swinging latch member pivoted to one of said members on a vertical axis to swing thereon in a horizontal plane, said latch member being. located near the other end of said member, adapted in one position to engage the other member and adapted to be released from said last mentioned member by movement in substantially the same direction with relation to said first mentioned member as that in which the first mentioned member moves with relation'to the last mentioned member in its swingin movement away from the last mentione member, and means opposing said movement of the latch member .with relation to the member on which it is pivoted;

6. In casing handling tools the combination of a plurality of casing encircling mem-- bers relatively movable to and from a osition to surround a well casing; and atch means for holding said members together in closed position, embodying a latch supported on and pivoted to one member to swing thereon, the latch having a shank and a laterally projecting head at its swinging end, the swinging bearings and support for the latch being symmetricall'yarranged with relation to a central radial line through the shank and the laterally projecting head being also so symmetrically arranged, and engaging the other member symmetrically with relation to a plane through said central radial line and at right angles to the swinging axis. 7 7. In casing tion of a plurality of casing encircling members relatively movable to and from a position to surround a well casing; and latch means for holding said members together in closed position, embodying a latch supported on and pivoted to one member to swing thereon, the latch having a shank and a laterally projecting head at its swinging end, the swinging bearings and support for the latch being symmetrically arranged handlihg tools, the combina- I tion to surround a well casing; and latch means for holding said members together in closed position, embodying a latch supported on and pivoted to'one member to swing thereon, the latch having a shank' and a laterally projecting head at its swinging end, the swinging bearings and support for the latch being symmetrically arranged with relation to a central radial line through the shank and the laterally rojecting head being symmetrically arrange and engaging the other member symmetrically with relation toa plane through said central radial line and. at right angles to the swinging axis, and 'being also symmetrical with relation to a radial plane which is determined by said central radial line and said swinging axis; the engaging surface of said head being arcuate in form and concentric about said swingin axis, and the other member having a late engaging surface arcuate in form and concentric about said latch swinging axis when the members are in closed position.

9. In casing handling tools the combination of a plurality of casing encircling members relatively movable to and from a position to encircle a well casing; and latch means for holding said members together in closed position, embodying a latch supported on and pivoted to one member to swing thereon, the latch having a shank and a laterally projecting head at its swinging end, said head projecting in a direction substantially at right angles to the plane of movement of the latch, said head having an arcuate surface concentric with the swinging axis, and the other member having a corresponding arcuate surface adapted to be swung over and engaged by the arcuate latch "surface.

10. In casing handling tools, the combination of a plurality of casing encircling members relatively movable to and from a position to encircle a well casing; and latch means for holding said members together in closed position, embodying a latch supported on and pivoted to one member to swing thereon, the latch having a shank and a laterally projecting head at its swinging end, the other member having a latch engaging surface, the latch head ahd said surface engaging each other on an arcuate surface that is concentric with the swinging axis of the latch.

11. In casing handling tools, the combination of a plurality of easing encircling members pivoted together on a vertical pivot to swing relatively horizontally to and from a position to encircle a casing; and a latch device to hold the swinging ends of said members together in closed position embodying a latch pivoted on a vertical axis on one of said members to'swing horizontally thereon, said axis being eccentric to the swinging axis between the two members, the other of said members having a latch engaging surface concentric with the latch axis when the members are in closed position, and the latch swinging into latching engagement with said concentric surfaces by swinging movement toward the swinging axis of the two members.

12. In casing handling tools, the combination of a plurality of pipe encircling parts pivoted together on a vertical axis near one end so that their other ends may swing relatively horizontally to and from a position to encircle a casing, and a swinging latch pivoted to one of said members on a vertical axis and engaging the other member near its swinging end on a vertical line of engagement.

13. In casing handling tools, the combina- 51011 of a plurality of pipe encircling parts pivoted together on a vertical axis near one end so that their other ends may swing relatively horizontally to and from a position to encircle a casing, and a swinging latch pivoted to one of said members on a vertical axis-and adapted to engage the other member on a vertical line of engageinent, the

vertical centers of the pivotal axis between the two members, of the pivotal axis of the latch, and of the vertical line of engagement of the latch with the second mentioned member, all being located between the upper and lower edges of the two members and at a substantial distance below their upper edges and the vertical length of such axis and line of engagement being of considerable vertical extent. i

14. A- casing handling tool comprising pivotally connected, opposed, clamping and supporting members movable to and from a position to surround and vertically support 15. In casing handling tools, the combination of a plurality of pipe encircling members hinged together at one end on a vertical pivot, the free ends adapted to be swung to and from each other to encircle a casing or pipe and to release the same; and means to hold the free ends together to hold the members about a pipe, comprising a latch pivoted to one member near its free end on a vertical axis and lying in the medial portion of the distance between the upper and lower edges of said members, said latch having a shank and a transverse headextending from the shank vertically, said head being symmetrically arranged about the central longitudinal axis of; the shank, the other member havin a latch head engaging lug near its free end and the head and lug engaging on an arcuate surface concentric with the latch pivot, the latch swinging into engagement with the In by movement in a direction generally towar the pivotal interconnection of the two said members and swinging out of lug engagementby movement in the same general direction that the first mentioned member swings with relation to the second mentioned member to open up the space between the two members.

16. In casing handling tools, the combination of a plurality of easing encircling members-hinged together for one member to swing horizontally with relation to another,

and a horizontally swinging latch mounted on one member and adapted to engage and hold the other in closed position about the casing.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of April 1920.

ELIHU C. WILSON.

Witness:

VIRGINIA Bnnmenn. 

